CHAPTER TEN
The town hall had been converted into a beautiful wintery Christmas party. One to celebrate the wedding of two of the town’s heroes. Every table and chair was covered in snow-white linens. The center of each table held glass cylinders full of cranberries and candles, around which was a wreath of pine and holly berries. Henry and Chloe’s friend had miraculously whipped up flower arrangements that morning at Petal Pushers to sit on the main table and every other dining table. The white hydrangeas to look like snow balls surrounded by red roses, Gerbera daisies and calla lilies. On the side of the wedding party’s table sat a five-tier wedding cake—each layer had decorations of sprigs of cranberries, pinecones, greenery and white roses, all made out of icing—which was currently being dismantled by Willie Mae and her staff from Yeast & West Bakery to serve the guests after they ate the main meal. Christmas carols played overhead as everyone helped themselves to the potluck-style dinner.
Gage looked out among the people who’d gathered in the church for the ceremony and now here to celebrate his marriage to Bobby. A year ago he’d been burying his dad and counting the days ‘til he could turn his back on these people. Now, they’d come to mean so much to him.
A soft hand settled over his. He stared down at the diamond-and-white-gold wedding set on Bobby’s third finger. A simple design. Like the woman, herself. Beautiful, but understated. Slowly he lifted his head to meet her gaze.
Love filled her eyes. Then she smiled and he felt it clear through his body.
His.
“They love you almost as much as I do,” she said, nodding towards their guests.
“It’s a little humbling knowing that a year ago I couldn’t get out of town fast enough.” He turned his hand to hold hers. “Then you dropped into my life.”
She laughed. “Quite literally.”
He loved hearing her laughter. She should always smile and laugh. Then his thoughts turned to the danger she’d been in just yesterday. If Moira had had her way, none of this would be happening. It was a Christmas miracle that Bobby was here with him today.
“Stop it,” she said, leaning in to kiss him softly. “Don’t think about it. It’s what she wanted, to ruin our wedding.”
“I can’t help it. If something had gone wrong. If I’d lost you…and our child…”
She cupped his face in both her hands. “Well, you didn’t. We took her down. Together. Face it, Sheriff Justice, we’re a team. Nothing can tear us apart.”
Before he could answer her, the music stopped and his youngest deputy, Jason Clarke, who was serving as DJ, interrupted. “Time for our bride and groom to open the dancing with the first dance.”
Gage shook his head good-naturedly, pulling Bobby to her feet, the white silk of her dress swirling around them. Applause filled the hall as they walked onto the dance floor. Then he took her into his arms as the melodic strains of the Christmas Waltz filled the room.
They’d been practicing a traditional waltz for weeks just for this. After a few whirls around the room, other couples started to join them. Doc Clint and Emma matched them step-for-step. Deke Reynolds, his best man, and his new wife, Libby were slow dancing in a quiet corner, while their foster son Kyle did some odd sort of swing dance with Rachel Doone. Cleetus and little Sylvie were doing some odd sort of two-step. Even Lorna had gotten Pete, her line chef, cleaned up and out to dance. This was what Christmas was really all about. Being with the people you loved the most. Family.
Gage pulled Bobby closer. “As much as I love all these people. How long do you think before I can get you alone?”
She laughed. “Are you planning to ravish me for Christmas?”
“As thoroughly as I can.”
“I can’t believe she’s going to have a baby,” Chloe said, pulling up a chair next to Wes. She held out a glass tumbler. He splashed in some whisky from the bottle on the table in front of him.
“I can’t believe he put her in danger by distracting Moira, yesterday.” He sipped his drink, watching the couple on the floor, his peripheral vision catching Chloe down the whisky without a cough or shudder from the burn afterward.
Impressive.
He poured her another.
“Damn it, I’m going to be an aunt.”
“Are you angry with her? For the baby?”
She shook her head, taking another healthy drink. “No, of course not. If anyone deserves a happily-ever-after, complete with big, sexy husband and cute babies, it’s Bobby. She put her whole life on hold to take care of me and Dylan. I owe her everything.” She nodded to the youngest sister, who was doing a little swing dance shuffle with Henry from Petal Pushers. “And that one is going to be a helluva surgeon someday.”
“Bobby gets a husband and family. Dylan a career. And what do you want?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.
“Safety.” She finished off the second drink and held out her glass for another.
He obliged. Maybe if he got her drunk enough she’d let down her defenses and tell him who she thought was stalking her. As they drank quietly in the dark corner, the party continued around them. He slowly sipped his while making sure her glass was always filled.
Finally, Gage and Bobby left, but Chloe was in no shape to see them off.
“I should…go…to the inn,” she said, reaching for her purse and nearly toppling off her chair.
“How about I drive you,” he said, leaning in to take the bag from her. He fished out her car keys and helped her to her feet.
She draped one long arm around his shoulders and leaned in close. “You jest wanna take ad…ad…vantage of me,” she slurred.
“Oh, sweetheart, if you only knew how true that was,” he said, quietly leading her out the back door of the town hall. He eased her into the passenger side of her car then climbed into the driver’s side. She’d curled her long legs up to one side and closed her eyes.
Pulling out of the parking lot, he headed out of town.